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BEIJING -- WTA Finals qualifiers Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova and Simona Halep confirmed their class with straight-sets victories at the China Open on Tuesday as two contenders to join them in the season-ending tournament suffered surprise defeats. World No. 1 and defending champion Williams had struggled in her opening match on the blue hard courts of Beijing but the American was back to her best in her 6-2 6-3 second-round victory over Bulgaria's Tsvetana Pironkova. The pair traded a break apiece in the first five games of the match before recently crowned U.S. Open champion Williams took control of the contest by reeling off three straight games to claim the opening set. The...

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BEIJING -- WTA Finals qualifiers Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova and Simona Halep confirmed their class with straight-sets victories at the China Open on Tuesday as two contenders to join them in the season-ending tournament suffered surprise...